http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=28283
Mon, 14 Mar 2016 09:08:01 +0000PunBBhttp://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=171452#p171452
For those who have tried learning finger picking or Travis picking and are having problems with it feeling natural. Have you watched an electric bass player closely? Most use their first and second finger. For now forget your thumb. Once you get comfortable with using the first and second finger, then add your thumb on the base strings, and at the same time re-position your hand so it is comfortable to use all three together. Once you learn to do this you will soon learn variations using the same fingers. Also if you keep you hand free from the guitar then later it will also feel better. Some use their little finger as an anchor and if you just don't start using an anchor then later you will be limited.

I hope this helps those who want to learn and having problems. Go slow and practice finger picking at least some each day until it feels natural.

]]>Mon, 14 Mar 2016 09:08:01 +0000http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=171452#p171452http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=171344#p171344
MKM ... I completely agree about hearing a piano tune re-arranged for guitar. Last year, I adapted "Superman's Song" (Crash Test Dummies) for classical guitar, and it sounds pretty good ... if I do say so myself. ]]>Thu, 10 Mar 2016 23:39:06 +0000http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=171344#p171344http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=171285#p171285
Fur Elise... I love listening to piano pieces played on guitar. Thank you for sharing! As well, it's interesting to see how he varies the tone and timbre!]]>Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:18:33 +0000http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=171285#p171285http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=171274#p171274
Very good rendition by Mr. Lucarelli ... thanks for the link. As you advised, I watched his right hand throughout, and noticed how he used the varied tones of the guitar, moving from the bridge to the neck and back, when it suited the melody / mood of the piece ... and so smoothly.]]>Tue, 08 Mar 2016 23:38:57 +0000http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=171274#p171274http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170711#p170711
Here is an interesting song. Michael Lucarelli is very good and is popular. Any of you who play any type of guitar should be able to play the notes in the song. What gives it the sound is the right hand and how he picks the song. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kjEvg_ZkgI

The song is called Fur Elise and is by Beethoven . I play it too and regardless of the appearance it is not hard to play. It just takes practice.

I spent a year trying to learn fingerstyle without much success. Then I realized that although I'm an intermediate guitarist, I am a beginner at fingerstyle. I bought a course called "Anyone can play Fingerstyle Guitar" from Melbay and within 2 weeks I was getting it. That was about 5 years ago and now the majority of what I play is fingerstyle. It opens up a whole new world of guitar playing.

Hi Reverb ... thanks for the very helpful advice. I ordered the Mel Bay DVD course that you recommended and endorsed, and am looking forward to "expanding the horizons" so to speak. Much obliged for your help and encouragement!

]]>Sun, 14 Feb 2016 22:13:37 +0000http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170542#p170542http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170538#p170538
Andes Segovia did practice tirelessly late in his life. He did not want his talent to decrease and from I understand he practiced at least 4 hours a day until he knew it was time to cut back.

Sabicas was wonderful and made great strides in flamingo guitar. He as actually born in who on March16, 1912 in Spain. His loved flamingo and started playing guitar at around age 4. As great as he was he later lived in New York and had numerous strokes and died from pneumonia. He played pieces on the guitar that up until he did it was not thought possible to play on a guitar. Thank you for mentioning him. Most classical guitarist know well who Andes Segovia was what he did. Few know who Segovia was and what he contributed and how great he was.

One more thought. This is a video of Andes Segovia who is considered the father of current classical guitar. He was born in 1893 and in1928 Segovia made his American debut in New York City. This is video of him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eBnfzngq9Y

What is interesting is he had short stubby large fingers and most of the early players did not have long finger nails. It was unheard of then and the long nails are more of recent trend. You do not need long nails to finger pick. I do concerts and have never had long nails. Today many of those you see with long nails cut some of them from ping pong balls and glue them to their nails and coat them with layers of hardener. They then shape their nails to look more normal. When you look at them they look long yet they look white in color.

My point is any one can learn to play either classical guitar or steel sting guitar without long nails. And as Andes Segovia proved long ago, you can play great with short stubby fingers without long nails. There are no rules on who can learn to finger pick and who can not. You just need to spend the time to practice and learn to play the music you like.

I read somewhere that Segovia used to practice for hours every day well into his old age and the article pointed out he was the 1st to transpose classical music to guitar, I have seen several of his videos and can understand his dedication. Another guitarist I recall hearing was Sebecas(dont no the proper spelling) he played flamenco and was quite excellent.

]]>Sat, 13 Feb 2016 15:03:10 +0000http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170519#p170519http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170513#p170513
One more thought. This is a video of Andes Segovia who is considered the father of current classical guitar. He was born in 1893 and in1928 Segovia made his American debut in New York City. This is video of him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eBnfzngq9Y

What is interesting is he had short stubby large fingers and most of the early players did not have long finger nails. It was unheard of then and the long nails are more of recent trend. You do not need long nails to finger pick. I do concerts and have never had long nails. Today many of those you see with long nails cut some of them from ping pong balls and glue them to their nails and coat them with layers of hardener. They then shape their nails to look more normal. When you look at them they look long yet they look white in color.

My point is any one can learn to play either classical guitar or steel sting guitar without long nails. And as Andes Segovia proved long ago, you can play great with short stubby fingers without long nails. There are no rules on who can learn to finger pick and who can not. You just need to spend the time to practice and learn to play the music you like.

Another fingerstyle player here! I own picks, but long since forgot how to hold onto one...... jus' keep growin' them nails.

]]>Sat, 13 Feb 2016 01:36:55 +0000http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170494#p170494http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170481#p170481
to the board reverb. ]]>Fri, 12 Feb 2016 22:22:25 +0000http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170481#p170481http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170478#p170478
I spent a year trying to learn fingerstyle without much success. Then I realized that although I'm an intermediate guitarist, I am a beginner at fingerstyle. I bought a course called "Anyone can play Fingerstyle Guitar" from Melbay and within 2 weeks I was getting it. That was about 5 years ago and now the majority of what I play is fingerstyle. It opens up a whole new world of guitar playing.]]>Fri, 12 Feb 2016 21:49:46 +0000http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170478#p170478http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=170394#p170394
Tenement Funster wrote:

Is this the best tutorial ever ... or what?!?!?!

Very cool - I like his style of passing on knowledge. I have to give it a try, it's going to take a long time-but hey, I'm retired and got nothing but time to fill.